Interpreting Your Patient’s PerioDX® Report

The PerioDX Test is a major advance in microbial diagnostics in periodontal disease and oral health.

Both Polymerase Chain reaction (PCR) and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) are used to analyze samples from saliva as well as periodontal pockets. The technology and the sampling method combine to give you a comprehensive report of your patient’s oral microbiome.

Page one of the PerioDX report shows you the results of the PCR analysis. PCR is a technology that makes many copies of a small portion of microorganisms’ genetic information. Results are limited to the number of microorganisms on the test panel. The PCR analysis in the PerioDX test is highly sensitive and specific for 15 bacteria and one fungus associated with periodontal disease. These organisms are:

1. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans: Gram-negative bacterium associated with a severe infection of the periodontium
2. Tannerella forsythia: Gram-negative bacterium implicated in periodontal diseases
3. Fusobacterium nucleatum: Gram-negative bacterium associated with periodontal disease and commonly found in the plaque of humans
4. Peptostreptococcus micros: Gram-positive bacteria linked to progressive periodontitis
5. Eikenella corrodens: Gram-negative bacterium commonly found in the human mucosal surface due to poor oral hygiene and periodontal infection
6. Capnocytophaga Species: Gram-negative bacteria usually associated with periodontal disease
7. Treponema denticola: Gram-negative bacterium associated with periodontal disease
8. Prevotella intermedia: Gram-negative bacterial involved in gingivitis and periodontitis
9. Porphyromonas gingivalis: Gram-negative bacterium associated with periodontal disease
10. Eubacterium nodatum: Gram-positive bacterium is seen in chronic periodontitis
11. Campylobacter rectus: Gram-negative bacterium associated with chronic periodontitis
12. Streptococcus mutans: Gram-positive bacterium found in the human oral cavity and a major contributor to tooth decay
13. Selenomonas noxia: Gram-negative bacterium related to periodontitis and detected in gingival crevice and periodontal pocket
14. Streptococcus pyogenes: Gram-positive bacterium linked diseases including pharyngitis
15. Neisseria meningitidis: Gram-negative bacteria associated with meningitis
16. Candida albicans: Opportunistic microbe that can cause oral thrush

PAGE TWO of the PerioDX report displays the results of the analysis of the Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) analyzes the genetic fingerprint of everything in the sample. The genetic fingerprint is determined by comparing that to MicroGenDX’s curated library of DNA codes and then Bioinformatics software is used to identify the microbe. The comprehensive approach can identify thousands of possible microorganisms in one sample. Currently, MicroGenDx matches samples against a curated database of over 50,000 possible microbial DNA matches.